Local search ranking factors are very important for local businesses. There are many things you should know about local search ranking results. In this blog post we are going to focus on a few of the most important ones. When it comes to local search ranking, there’s so much you can do. The best thing to do is to customize your local search ranking factors to meet your specific business needs.
Google My Business
We think it’s vital that you claim your Google My Business page. It’s easy to do. You just have to prove that you are the owner of the business. Google will send you a postcard with a verification code. You type it in and you have immediate access to your page. Optimize the page with keyword phrases. Make sure you include local cues in your content so that you can be more easily found on the Google search engines.
Links
Linking includes both back-linking and inter-page linking. You should use both to make sure your site has the utmost authority possible. Google seems to be putting more weight on links than in the past. However, don’t get caught linking to link farms or other disreputable sources. The quality of your links is more important than the quantity of your links. Perhaps, you could focus on local link building. Link to local businesses and have them link back to you to create a network of sorts for people to discover. If it makes sense to them, then you and these other businesses can help each other get customers. That’s good local search teamwork.
On-page SEO
You want to have good on-page SEO. This means that your website is optimized for keywords. Use local keywords whenever possible. You want content on each page to focus on specific keywords. Don’t overuse those keywords and make sure to use variations of the keywords in the content. The keyword should flow naturally in the content and not be overused. If you overuse keywords, you may be penalized with lowered rankings by Google and other search engines for keyword stuffing. Remember to include keywords in URLs and navigation pages. You will also want to ensure that your navigation makes sense to the end user and is easy to follow. Nothing turns off a visitor more than not being able to find something easily.
Citations
You should make an effort to put your business in local directories that potential customers will use to find you. Listings in Yelp and FourSquare is a good start. There are many more. You can search local citations on Google to find the ones you want. When you are building these citations, make sure the content is consistent so that users can find you easily. It should be up to date and have your hours of operation as well as your contact information.
Reviews
What others say about you is important. You will want to ask your customers for positive reviews. The most important thing about reviews is that you check them. If you have negative reviews, you should try to rectify the situation and respond in a professional manner. This shows other people that you are willing to work with customers to improve their experience and you can admit your mistakes.
Social Signals
Your social media accounts are an important area for you to cultivate. They are free to set up. Get on the channels that your customers and potential customers are using most often. You don’t have to be everywhere. In fact, you shouldn’t. It’s not feasible or viable. Post regularly and respond to comments. You want to make people feel welcome on your social media site. You should also monitor what is being said about you on social networks and respond accordingly whenever you can. The more your brand is mentioned, the better your local search ranking.
We know there are other factors that impact local search rankings. However, we feel these are the most important. What do you think? We’d love to hear from you on our Facebook page. You can find us at https://www.facebook.com/SoloSEO/.
Source: SoloSEO